Editorial: Elbert Lee Guillory keeps telling it like it is

When state Sen. Elbert Lee Guillory announced he was switching his party affiliation to the GOP, few who have followed his career were surprised. A self-described moderate, the Democratic senator from District 24 often crossed party lines on issues, tending more toward the Republican side in recent years.

But when his controversial YouTube video, which explains his reasons for the switch, went viral, propelling him into the national spotlight, many were surprised - including, it appears, Guillory himself. As of early Wednesday afternoon, the video had received 665,881 hits.

The video raised questions about Guillory's political philosophy and aspirations.

Guillory sat down with The Daily Advertiser Editorial Board on Tuesday to provide answers to some of those questions. What emerged during the conversation was a portrait of an unconventional political career spanning more than 50 years - and this latest twist seems to be just another curve in the road. It would be tempting to use the word "maverick," had it not been so over-used during the McCain-Palin campaign.

In his first post-switch meeting with the Editorial Board last week, Guillory had cited political pragmatism as one of his reasons for changing parties. The state has become increasingly Republican and all the important decisions are being made in rooms full of Republicans. He wanted to be able to represent his predominantly black constituency in those rooms.

As Democrat or Republican, he would continue to vote his conscience, rather than along party lines, he said.

At the same time, he expressed disappointment in the Democratic Party, which he referred to by the nouveau pejorative, "Democrat Party," which has moved too far to the left and away from the traditional values of marriage and family, he said. He also spoke of an emerging anti-gun faction among Louisiana Democrats.

Then, less than a week later, Guillory's video became wildly popular, landing him on national talk shows and has sparked conversations about the possibility of aspirations to national office.

That seemed to contradict his earlier statements.

Not so, Guillory said.

The video, which is peppered with racial overtones, is meant simply to inform his constituents in District 24 as to the reasons he made the switch, he said.

He said Tuesday there were two-and-a-half reasons for the move. The first "half-reason," Guillory said, involves recent slights on the part of the local Democratic Party officials toward him. The other two reasons involve the pragmatic politics and values he had spoken of earlier.

The video makes his point and effectively distances him from the party that propelled him to his current office.

But Guillory said he makes it a point never to "burn any bridges."

He started out as a Democrat in a Democratic household. Early in his career, Guillory switched to the Republican Party in another state. He returned to Opelousas decades ago to care for his elderly parents, and eventually went back to the Democratic Party, because he felt he could make the biggest impact for his district as a Democrat, Guillory said.

And now, as the power structure of the state has moved to the right, he can do more for his district as a Republican, Guillory said.

While many may look askance at Guillory's game of political ping-pong, to all appearances, his explanations for his actions seem sincere and his motives genuine.

Is he politically motivated? It would be na´ve to think anyone in public office has no political motivations.

Guillory confirmed the rumors that he has been approached by some groups to run for lieutenant governor and by others, to run for the U.S. Senate.

But he insists he is "on track" to run again for his District 24 Senate seat, his newfound celebrity notwithstanding.

At the same time, although it would take a lot of soul-searching, he won't close the door to any possibilities.

And that is just what you would expect from someone who has built his career by doing things his own way.

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Editorial: Elbert Lee Guillory keeps telling it like it is

When state Sen. Elbert Lee Guillory announced he was switching his party affiliation to the GOP, few who have followed his career were surprised.